Highway 368 was one of a number of northeast highways that was hit hard by the recent weather system. (Facebook/Highway 368 Road Report)

By Mat Barrett

Mackenzie Streamer

Mackenzie streamer brings wind, snow, temperature fluctuations to Saskatchewan

Jan 20, 2021 | 12:14 PM

Some strange weather has come through Saskatchewan over the last 24 hours and is expected to continue over the next day or so.

According to Environment Canada Meteorologist Terri Lang, it’s thanks to a mackenzie streamer that has made it’s way into northern Saskatchewan from the Northwest Territories. The system first brings a bit of a warm up, then a big drop in temperatures, as was seen over night on Tuesday.

“Because we see this rapid warmup ahead of this system,” Lang said. “Those south, south westerly winds which are usually warm winds. Then we had the passage of the first cold front come through, and that’s when the winds really picked up.”

Lang said Saskatoon was hit the hardest with wind gust reaching 100 km/h at times. The northeast region had gusts around 60 km/h hit the weather station, but Lang said there could have been heavier gusts in places but the south, central and west portions of the province were the ones to get the strongest winds.

The rapid warmup, and then cool down, followed by another warmup and cool down along with strong winds also leads to some difficulties on local highways.

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“It freezes the roads over very quickly,” Lang told northeastNOW. “And if you get some freezing rain on top of that, then it really makes for some messy driving conditions.”

Temperatures will remain around zero or just below for most of Wednesday with strong winds throughout the day and into the evening. That will bring in some much colder temperatures hovering around the mid negative teens. After the Mackenzie Streamer passes, Lang said we likely won’t get back to normal temperatures for a week or so.

“We’ve been running well above average for weeks and weeks and weeks,” she said. “So, we’re going to sink towards average seasonal values by Friday and probably colder than seasonal values for the weekend.

Temperatures are likely to hit -20C by Saturday. Lang said with winter finally seeming to set it, it’s a good idea for people to start bringing out that heavy winter gear as wind chill values will start heading into frostbite range.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6